Henry “Herb” Wendt, 71

Services for Henry “Herb” Wendt age 71 of Blair, who died at Immanuel Medical Center in Omaha, August 2, 1993 will be 2 p.m. Thursday, August 5 at the Country Bible Church, with military graveside services in the Blair Cemetery.

Henry H. Wendt was born February 15, 1922 at Winside, Nebraska to Fredrick and Bertha Voss Wendt. His family moved to Blair in 1924 where he resided until his death. He graduated from Blair High School.

He entered the Army during World War II and served from 1942 to 1945 with the 91st Infantry Division, receiving the Silver and Bronze Star Medal.

On May 28, 1946 he married Stella Wilson at Lawrence, Kansas.

Herb worked for 2 ½ years with the Crouse Ready-Mix Company and for 18 years with the Ed Miller and Sons Excavating Company. After his retirement, he worked with the Blair Park Crew for eight years.

He was a member of the Blair Veterans of Foreign Wars and the “Silver Cords”, a church group of retirees. Herb and his wife were one of the two couples who God used to begin a new Blair church, which is the Country Bible Church.

He is survived by his wife, Stella; sons and daughters-in-law, Scott and Pat Wendt, Lincoln, Nebraska and Kirby and Dianna Wendt, Blair; daughters and sons-in-law, Hope and Clarence Mock III, Fremont and Vicki and Bob Neverman, Campbell, California; grandchildren, Corby Renard, Brooke Renard, Noah Mock, Ryan Wendt and Jason Wendt; step-grandchildren Danny Thompson, Jon Thompson, Mike Thompson and Tracy Schrotberger and step-great-grandchildren, Lindsey Thompson, Morgan Thompson and Jessica Thompson.

Campbell-Aman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Pilot Tribune 24 Aug 1944

Sgt. Wendt Cited for Courage

“Herb” Wendt Defended Platoon With Bazooka, Stopped New Attack

Henry Herbert F. Wendt, son of Mrs. Bertha Wendt of Blair, has been cited for gallantry in action on July 16 in the vicinity of Frati, Italy. A silver star medal has been awarded Staff Sgt. Wendt, who is stationed with Co. K. 362nd Inf.

The official war department communication received this week by Sgt. Wendt’s mother states that a platoon of which he was a member had pushed the enemy on to flat terrain on the top of a hill. Freshly committed enemy reinforcements, employed two tanks, one on each flank.

Staff Sgt. Wendt seeing his platoon pinned down took a bazooka and under intense enemy fire moved out 200 yards from his company to a partially defiladed position. He fired on the right flank tank, silenced its machine gun and forced it to withdraw. He then moved laterally across his company front towards the other tank and while under fire from the guns of this tank he scored a direct hit on the tank’s cannon, putting it out of action. This tank also hastily withdrew.

The courageous act of Staff Sgt. Wendt relieved the pressure and broke up an anticipated counter attack, war department officials claim. “The courage and timely action called for in this deed, undoubtedly saved the lives of many of his fellow soldiers,” the citation continued, “and proved an inspiration to other members of his platoon in stemming the counter attack.”

Sgt. Wendt was graduated from Blair high school and entered military service here in October, 1942. He trained at Camp White and Camp Adair Ore. and has been overseas since March.

Note: He is buried in the Blair Cemetery, Blk 77 Lot 3 Gr 5; Find a Grave # 98518038 ~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~